Syed Ahmad was asked if it was permissible for Muslims to take or eat food with Englishmen or Non-Muslims. Syed Ahmad wrote a detailed treatise entitled, "Risala-i-Ahkam-i Ta''''am-i-Ahl-i Kitab (Ordinances pertaining to the question of eating with the "People of the Book"). He based his arguments on the verses of the Quran, the Traditions, the opinion of the jurists and wrote that the Muslims could eat with the British the food prepared by the latter in their utensils and the animal or the bird slaughtered by them. Read

The Ain-i-Akbari or the "Institutes of Akbar (mode of governing)” is a detailed Persian document recording the administration of emperor Akbar''''s empire, written by his Wazir, Abu''''l-Fazl ibn Mubarak in 1590. Syed Ahmad revised the original work and produced a glossary of the unfamiliar words of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi and Sanskrit. He brought into conformity the weights and measures of Akbar''''s age with those of his own times . European scholars consider this work of Syed Ahmad of incomparable historical value. Read

Sir William Muir’s “Life of Mahomet” (available online) made some wild allegations against the Prophet Mohammad (saw). Syed Ahmad was greatly disturbed and pained and prepared to write a detailed response in the form of the book “Khutubat-i-Ahmadiya”. He planned to collect research material in England during his trip to England. Syed Ahmad had to endure many financial difficulties for the translation and publication of the book in England. He later expanded upon these ideas in the form of “Tasanif-i-Ahmadiya”. Maulana Moudoodi declared this book as the first major scholarly work on the life of Prophet. Read

This risala deals with the “Nida”, “Dua”, its acceptance, and relationship with Taqdeer or Fate. This and other similar articles were written by Sir Syed after an extensive reseraach and collection of “Quran Ayat” and “Ahadith” and offered a unique and fresh thinking and approach. These alternative explanations, sometime, challenged the existing beliefs and therefore created lot of resistance and opposition to Sir Syed religious views. Read

Syed Ahmad was serving as ‘Sadr Amin’ in Bijnor when the Revolt broke out in Delhi on May 10, 1857. The events of 1857, directly or indirectly, had not only shaken the very foundations of British rule and ultimately resulting into independent India, but also shattered the unity between Muslims and Hindus, and in particular the mindset of Syed Ahmad. The events of the Revolt have been described in detail by Syed Ahmad in his Tarikh-i-Sarkashi-i- (Zila'''') Bijnore or the History of 1857 Revolt and its causes (Asbab-e-Baghawat-e Hind or The Causes of Indian revolt). Read

Syed Ahmad was serving as ‘Sadr Amin’ in Bijnor when the Revolt broke out in Delhi on May 10, 1857. The events of 1857, directly or indirectly, had not only shaken the very foundations of British rule and ultimately resulting into independent India, but also shattered the unity between Muslims and Hindus, and in particular the mindset of Syed Ahmad. The events of the Revolt have been described in detail by Syed Ahmad in his Tarikh-i-Sarkashi-i- (Zila'''') Bijnore or the History of 1857 Revolt and its causes (Asbab-e-Baghawat-e Hind or The Causes of Indian revolt). Read

No single event in the history of modern India excites the imagination more than the Revolt of 1857. The controversy still continues: was it a mutiny, a rebellion, or war of independence. The events of 1857, directly or indirectly, had not only shaken the very foundations of British rule and ultimately resulting into independent India, but also shattered the unity between Muslims and Hindus. The events of the Revolt have been described in detail by Syed Ahmad in his Tarikh-i-Sarkashi-i- (Zila'''') Bijnore or the History of 1857 Revolt and its causes (Asbab-e-Baghawat-e Hind or The Causes of Indian revolt). Read

This short assay of Sir Syed starts with a couplet with “Syed” as Takhallus but it if from Hali. The publisher used it for the introduction of the article. Sir Syed narrates a very interesting story of two young Muslims who happened to find Allah in the night in the form of a light. One of them ask Allah to give him the riches of this world (Duniya) so that he can use it for the benefit of Islam. The other man asked for the hatred of Duniya and the love of God so that he can devote all his life for the remembrance of Allah. Read

This is a commentary on the portion of the Quran containing the story of “Zulqarnain”. Sir Syed tried to remove some of the misconceptions that were prevalent at the time that have no basis in the Quran. Zulqarnain is the name of the ruler or King who ruled almost the entire land. Sir Syed elaborated on the identity of “Zulqarnain” and enquired about the history of the idols of the Arabs. Read

In 1871 Dr. Hunter published a book on the religious thoughts of Indian Muslims “Our Indian Musalmans-Are the Indian Musalmans bound by their religion to rebel against the Queen”. Dr Hunter believed that the Muslims can never be loyal and well wishers of the Government. He also said that Wahhabism and mutiny are synonymous words. Sir Syed wrote a detailed response “Review of Dr. Hunters Indian Musulman” in 1872. He pointed out Dr. Hunter’s mistakes and provided a history of the Wahhabis admitted that he himself was a Wahhabi. Dr. Hunter’s Book is also available online. Read

In 1871 Dr. Hunter published a book on the religious thoughts of Indian Muslims “Our Indian Musalmans-Are the Indian Musalmans bound by their religion to rebel against the Queen”. Dr Hunter believed that the Muslims can never be loyal and well wishers of the Government. He also said that Wahhabism and mutiny are synonymous words. Sir Syed wrote a detailed response “Review of Dr. Hunters Indian Musulman” in 1872. He pointed out Dr. Hunter’s mistakes and provided a history of the Wahhabis admitted that he himself was a Wahhabi. Dr. Hunter’s Book is also available online. Read

In this tract Syed Ahmad, according to the old beliefs tried to prove that the sun revolves around the earth. But then he got convinced of the European theory that the earth revolves around the sun, he subscribed to this later theory. Read

Syed Mahmood, son of Sir Syed, was awarded a fellowship to study in England. Sir Syed accompanied his sons to England to gain first hand knowledge about British culture and educational system. Sir Syed left Benares on April, 1, 1869 and returned from Engalnd on Sept. 4th, 1870. He visited Egypt, France, and Britain in this travel. He was awarded the title of C.S.I. (title “Sir”) by the duke of Argyll on August 6th, 1869, London. The account of this journey in “Tehzibul Akhlaq”. Sir Syed also visited Cambridge to study the British system of education. It was during this trip that Sir Syed thought of establishing a Cambridge at Aligarh in the form of MAO college. Read

This book contains the details of Sir Syed travel to the Punjab region and meetings with important people. As always, Sir Syed traveled to various places to gain support for his educational movement. Sir Syed travel to Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Lahore, and Muzaffar Nagar. He had meetings with the important people of the region such as Syed Mahmood Hasan Khan Bahadur, Syed Mohd Husain Khan of Patiala. In all these places Sir Syed was received with honor and respect not given to any other person. Syed Iqbal Ali had carefully recorded his speeches and addresses given during this trip. Read

No single event in the history of modern India excites the imagination more than the Revolt of 1857. The controversy still continues: was it a mutiny, a rebellion, or war of independence. The events of 1857, directly or indirectly, had not only shaken the very foundations of British rule and ultimately resulting into independent India, but also shattered the unity between Muslims and Hindus. The events of the Revolt have been described in detail by Syed Ahmad in his Tarikh-i-Sarkashi-i- (Zila'') Bijnore or the History of 1857 Revolt and its causes (Asbab-e-Baghawat-e Hind or The Causes of Indian revolt). Read

This is a brief but useful list of those rajas and kings who ruled Delhi during the last five thousand years. The list starts with Raja Yudhishtar and ends with Oaisar-i-Hind Empress Victoria. The list consists of 202 rulers with the names of their fathers, the years of the accession, their capitals and the duration of their reigns. Actually this is the same list which was appended to the 2" chapter of the 2 edition of Asar us-Sanadid. He improved upon it and published it separately under the title of Silsilat ul-Muluk. Read

Sir Syed had written an account of his maternal grandfather, Khawaja Fariduddin Ahmad, in the form a biography in “Seerat-i-Faridiya”. Khwaja Fariduddin Ahmad, the maternal grandfather of Sir Syed was among the descendants of Khwaja Muhammad Yusuf Hamadani. He was Dabirud-Daula, Aminul Mulk Khwaja Fariduddin Ahmad Khan Bahadur Musleh Jung. In his family, he was the most fortunate, able, wise, learned and was unrivalled in Mathematics. He went to Lucknow during the reign of Asafud Daula. He had no parallel in the knowledge of astronomical and mathematical instruments. Read